Hose coupling



March 2l, 1950 E. SICHULTHESS HOSE COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April26, 19,47

TTORNEVH yManzh 2l, 1950 E. scHuLTHl-:ss

HOSE COUPLING 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 26. 1947I .S R mw. mm VL mw Cm w M EW 5W E@ y WZN Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE4 Claims.

This invention relates to hose couplings and has for its principalobjects the provision of an improved hose coupling which is simple anddurable in construction, which can be readily assembled on the ends oflengths of any type of hose, such as, hose made of rubber, flexiblemetal, fabric, etc., to provide a safe, positive, leak-proof connectiontherebetween and without danger to the material of which such hose isconstituted, which will not loosen its grip on, or cause rupture of thehose while in use and which will successfully withstand rough usagewithout failure or distortion of its parts.

In my Patent No. 2,044,335, dated June 16, 1936, I have disclosed a formof coupling device which has been found to be highly desirable andeffective for the purposes for which it was designed. The hose couplingof the present invention represents an improvement over such priordevice in that it possesses special advantages for coupling lengths ofhose together, and it provides an improved grip on the hose which notonly enables the coupling to be more securely and more lastinglyconnected to the hose, but at the same time reduces to a minimum thepossibility of rupture of the hose wall, thereby prolonging the life ofthe hose. Furthermore, the present coupling is better adapted tosuccessfully withstand the rough usage to which couplings are ordinarilysubjected. Other advantages as Well as the novel details of constructionof the hose coupling of this invention will become apparent after aconsideration of the description hereinbelow set forth.

My improved hose coupling is illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich similar reference characters identify similar parts in the severalviews and in which Figs. 1 and 2 show the male and female halves,respectively, of the coupling mounted on oppOSed ends of lengths of hoseto be connected and in position for coupling such lengths of hose; Fig.3 is a right-hand end view of the coupling part shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4is a central vertical cross-section of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2in coupled relation; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a Vertical cross-section of the male member ofthemale coupling half shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive,constitutean unassembled view of the various parts of the coupling halfshown in Fig-2 and irl-which Fig. 7 is a control vertical cross-sectionof the male member in such coupling half; Fig. 8 is a verticalcross-section of the sleeve or .ring which is mounted on the end of thehose; Fig. 9 is a V'erti cal cross-section of the main body portion ofthe female member of such coupling half; Fig. 10

is a perspective view of the wedging sleeve or ring which is supportedin the female member and Fig. 11 is a central vertical cross-section ofdesignate the ends of the two lengths of hose' to be connected togetherby the coupling and the reference characters 3 and l4 generallydesignate. the male and female coupling halves, respectively, mounted onsuch hose ends. The members 3 and 4 are integral pieces of. brass or ofany other suitable materials and are similarly constructed, except inthe respects which shall be pointed out particularly. Each of the maleand female members 3 and 4 comprise a cylindrical end portion, whichportions are in opposed relation when the two halves of the coupling areconnected together. The end portion 5 of male member 3 is provided withan external seven thread which is adapted to interengage with aninternal seven thread provided on the coupling nut E. The end portion 1of female member 4 is provided with an annular recess in which isloosely seated the internal end flange 8 of the coupling nut 6, wherebythe nut E is securely but readily rotatably mounted on the female member4. It will be apparent that the male and female members 3 and 4 arecoupled together by the loosely mounted swivel nut 6 on end portion lbeingsecured on to the external thread of end portion 5, a fluid tightconnection between such end portions being assured by positioning apacking ring 9 therebetween. This coupling action is accomplished bymeans of a suitable tool engaging with lugs lll, In; formed on the nut6. It will be noted that'the lugs I0, l0 project outwardly from theexterior surface of the nut 6 to points which are spaced from the commoncentral axis of members 3 and 4 in their coupledl condition, a distanceless than the distance from such axis of any portion of the outersurfaces of the outwardly extending shouldersl l, I l on such male andfemale members 3 and 4 from which project the'end portions "5 and 1,respectively, of such members. Thus,'the coupling nut 5 and its lugs l0which are positioned intermediateth-eshoulders I| in the assembledcondition oi the coupling, are protected by such shoulders when the hoseis dragged over the ground or through buildings and against anypossibility of distortion by direct impact as when the hose is droppedWhile in use, such shoulders also eliminating the possibility oi thelugs I catching on anything While the hose is in use.

The shoulders I of male and female members 3 and 4 lare lintegrallyformed with the inner ends of the end portions and 'I and have anoctangularly shaped outer edge so that a wrench may be applied to eithershoulder to facilitate the tightening or loosening of the coupling'nut6.

It will be noted that the opposed faces of such y preferablypositioned-outwardlyrom the opposed faces of the shoulders so that theends of the coupling fnut .6 will not interfere with ready inspection ofthe recessed portions of .such faces. A cylindrical portion or vshank I3is lintegrally associated with "thershoulder F|| of each member and ltheinner 'end of the Yend `portieri thereof and together Withthe 'latterforms a Vpassageway |||r extending *longitudinally through the center ofthemember. lThe passageway .M of each member :has a diameter similar to:that of the passageway I4 of the other member 'and vsubstantiallyr thesame as the inside 'diameters of the hosel lengths' which are connectedby the coupling (note Fig. 4), so that the flow Yoi fluid through themale and .female :members 3 and 4 of the coupling is substantiallyIunaiected. .It will be understood from. an observation of Fig. 4 of thedrawings, that the Shanks I3, I3 oi the male and female members 3 and 4are inserted into the two ends of the hose lengths which are to becoupled. In order to facilitate the insertion vof a shank yI3 4into theend of `the hose'and to eliminate the .possibility of the outer end roithe shank rupturing the wall 'of the hose as the shank is so inserted,lsuch outer end, at IE, is I beveled and the bevel |`6 'continuessmoothly into the outer Wall of each Ashank I3 which is also smooth. Dueto the uniform rdiameter and thickness of each shank I3, the surroundingportion of the hose will retain its uniform thickness, thus establishinga strong unstrained anchorage of the hose end on the member.Furthermore, as the bevels I6 will enable the outerends of the shanks toform a substantially smooth unbroken continuation of the inner Wall ofthe hose, no obstructions to the flow of the fluid from the hose intothe passage oi the coupling, or vice versa, will be found.

An annular recess I 5 circumscribing the shank Iaiof each member isformed between such shank and an annular externally threaded wall I1integrally attached at its inner end `to the outer end portion of theassociated shoulder II, such wall being disposed in parallel relationwith the cylindrical wall `of the shank I3 .so as to be concentrictherewith. The distance Vbetween the outer periphery `of the shank I3and the inner periphery of the .annular wall I1 in each member is suchas to permit the ready insertion into the recess I5 therebetween or anend of the hose and angle with respect to such axis.

an expansible and contractible sleeve or ring I8 mounted in position onsuch end of the hose, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings.The annular wall I1 is shorter in length than the shank I3 in eachmember, as is clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, for a purpose which willbe hereinafter explained.

The ring i8 which is a split ring in order that its diameter may bevaried, is made of steel or any other suitable material and ispreferably shorter in width than the depth of the recess I5 so that whenthe parts of the coupling are assembled, it is contained entirely withinthe recess, as shown in Fig. 4. The size of ring I8 is preferably suchthat it will completely encircle the outer periphery of the hose when inposition thereon yet may be compressed or reduced in diameter onthe hosewithout any of its parts overlapping. The interior surface of the ringI8 is provided with a plurality of annularly shaped serrations'ornotches IWhosersides I9 are preferably rmade at lan 'angle oisulsvstantialls7 ninety degrees with the central axis of .the rin-g andwhose longer sides 2|) are disposedat an acute Thus, the notches fdo notinterfere in any Way with the ready .insertion of lthe ring |8 on to anend `of the hose, but when the Aend vof the hose. -is :inserted 'intothe recess I5 and a .second split rin-g 2| is slidab1y-forcedintoposition in such recess (note Fig. 4)', the notches will `bite into thematerial forming the exterior surface of .such hose and prevent anyshifting movement of the hose ends on the "shank I-3 of the coupling.

-5 Each ring I8 is also provided `with fa plurality of equally spacedslots 22 extending .inwardly from one end of Vthe ring and -a plurality'of .equally spaced slots 23--extendirrg inwardly from the other end ofthe ring, the slots 22 and `2.?, ybeing in staggered relation as can beseen more clearly -in Fig. 12 of thedrawings. The purposeof the slots 22and 23 is to increase the exibleness of the split ring I8 and at thesame time to provide additional anchorage for such rings on thematerialof the hose ends, as the material of the hose will -beiorced into suchslots whenthe rings 2| are forced into position over the rings I8 ineach half of the coupling.. Thus, the split rings IB, which may betermed vanchor lrin-ss, by reason of the notches on their interior faces.and the slots 2.2 and 23 obtain a rm and relatively permanent anchorageon the ends of the hose when compressed under the forces oi' the`sliding rings 2| and will effectively prevent any vpossibility of theends of the hose `from shifting. off the Shanks i3, once the .parts havebeen properly assembled. The grips of the rings I8 lon the ends of thehose will be uniform throughout their circumerences and the resultinguniform compression exerted on such hose ends by such rings, togetherwith the fact that the gripping action of such rings is exerted on theexterior tougher walls of the hose will minimize the possibilities ofrupture or weakening of the hose wall in usage.

The .second split ring 2| associated with each split ring I8 is asliding ring or sleeve which in the assembled condition of the partsencircles the ring I8 land is positioned in between the latter and theouter annular Wall |11 of the recess I5, in wedged relation, as shown inFig` fi. The rings I8 are beveled at 2`| and .the rings 2| are beveledat 28 to facilitate the .insertion of each sliding ring 2| over itsassociated ring I8 and to eliminate the possibility of the inserted endof ring V2| engaging with the inner ends of the slots 23 of ring` I 8during thefassembly of the partsf' The rings 2| which are made of thesame material as the rings I8, are appreciably greater in' width thanthe lengths of the walls I1 so that in the assembled condition of thecoupling, each ring 2| extends beyond the outer end of its associatedwall. The outer end of each-ring 2| is provided with an outwardlyextending shoulder or flange 24 which seats against the outer face ofaninternal flange 25 provided in the female member 2B'of each couplinghalf. The ring 2| is also split or slotted diagonally across itsentirewidth and through'the shoulder 24 to enable it to seat snugly anduniformly between the ring I8 and the wall I1 of each member without thenecessity of exactly machining ring 2| to accomplish such results. areso'dimensioned with respect to the hose that is to be connected, thatthe end portion ofthe hose and the rings I8 and 2| are tightly wedgedtogether in the recess, the ring 2| encircling and tightly compressingthe ring IB around the outei` periphery of the hose and into anchoredrelation therewith and jamming the inner periphery of the hose with auniform compression tightly against the outer periphery of the shank I3.The shank I3 in each coupling half is preferably made of sufficientlength to extend appreciably beyond the outer end of the ring I8 whenthe parts are assembled in position in the recess I5. as shown in Fig-4,to afford a better gripon the hose and at the same time to maintain at aminimum the stresses produced on that portion of the hose wall adjacentto the outer end of the ring I8, by causing any flexing orbending'strains on the hose wall to be absorbed by that portion of thehose wall adjacent the outer end of the shank I3, thus preventing thepossibility of rupture of the hose wall adjacent the outer end of thering I8 and thereby substantially prolonging the life of the hose.

` Threadedly engaging the outer wall I1 of the recess I in each couplinghalf, is an internally threaded female member made of brass or anv othersuitable metal and comprising an annular `body portion or union 26 and atail or end portion 29. The inner end portion of the tail part 29 isprovided with a male left-handed thread 3e which screws into the femaleleft-handed thread 3| provided on the outer end portion of the unionmember 25. An octangularly-shaped shoulder 32 is provided on the tailpart 29 so that the latter may be screwed tightly in place on the unionmember 25 by means of a wrench. When the union member 26 and the tailpart 29 are in assembled condition, as shown in Fig. 4, an annularrecess or groove is formed on the inner periphery of the female memberbetween the inner end 33 of the tail part 29 and an inwardly extendingannular flange or shoulder 25 provided on the union member 2B. Therecess is adapted to receive the flange 24 of the slidable ring 2| whichis placed in position in the union member 26 before the tail part 25 isscrewed in place on the latter. Thus, with this arrangement, the ring 2|is slidably inserted into or removed from the recess I5 when the femalemember is screwed or unscrewed. respectively, on the outer wall I1 ofthe recess I5 by means of the inner end 33 of the tail part 25| and theannular shoulder 25, respectively, which abut against and force theflange 24 of the ring 2| in the direction that the female member is,moving. The outer end of each wall I1 isprovided with an interior bevelor nare 34 to guide the ring 2| into the recess I5 when the female Therecess I5 and the rings I8 and 2|' member is screwed on the wall I1 andas has `bossen-- explained, the outer edge of the ring I8 is providedwth a bevel '21 which extends away from the flare 34 on wall I1 to guidethe ring 2| intov encircling position onto the ring I8 as the latter isslidably inserted into the recess I5. 'I'he bevel 28 on the inner edgeof the ring 2| enables the.

ring to be readily inserted into wedging position between the ring I8and the outer wall I1 of the recess I5 as it is moved inwardly under theinfluence of the end 33 of the tall part 29. The ring 2| is sufcientlywide so that when it is inserted in position in the recess I5 with itsinner end abutting againstor lying closely adjacent to` the end wall ofthe recess, asv shown in Fig. 4, the

flange 24 of ring 2| is positioned beyond the outer end of the wall I1to provide sufcient space therebetween for the annular shoulder 25formed on the inner periphery of the union member'26. The latter memberis'provided with an octangu. larly-shaped shoulder 35 as is clearlyshown in- Figs. l and 2, so that it may be screwed or uri-- screwed onits associate member 3 or by means of a wrench. The shoulder 35 isrelatively wide and extends over the surface of the union 26 toasubstantial distance on either side of the flange' wall 25 therebygreatly increasing the strength of this member and preventing anypossibility of the end bearing thread 3| from..becoming dis torted orbulging under the heavy stresses to? of hose lengths to be connected,the parts of the female members are preferably first assembled byinserting each ring 2| into the outer end of a union member 26 so thatthe free end of the ring extends out toward the inner end of the femalemember and the flange 24 thereof abuts against the outer face of theannular shoulder 25 of such union. The shoulder 25 preferably has anvinside diameter only slightly greater than the external diameter of thering 2| so that the latter is supported in the female membersubstantially parallel with the threaded portion 36y of the inner end ofsaid member, thereby holding` the insertable end of the ring 2| inproper position for insertion' between the ring I8 and the wall I1 ofthe recess I5. The tail part 29 of each female member is then screwedtightly in position on the outer end of its associated union member 26.With the female members thus assembled, each yassembly is slipped overan end of one of the lengths of hose to be connected and the rings IBare then placed in position on the end portions of the hose that are tobe contained in the recesses I5 of the members 3 and 4. The thickness ofthe wall of the hose and the kind of material of which it is made willgovern the size and thickness of the rings I8 that are to be used, sothat when the coupling is assembledand connecting such hose lengths, thepropel-amount of compression will be exerted on the end portions of thehose to Securely hold them in the coupling. The end portions of the hoselengths together with the rings I8 thereon, are then forced over theShanks VI3'of the .members 3 and 4 of the coupling and into the annularrecesses I5 until the ends vof the y*hose abut.

aganst the end walls :ofsuch recesses. The female members are ythen.screwed on the outer ,peripheres'of the Walls 1I I byfmeansoffazwrench. As a female member is screwed into position on the wallvIiI of each coupling .'half the ring 2| associated therewith is carriedforward by -said :member and guided by the ibeveled =end i3!! yof the`wall Il into therecess t5. The beveled edge 28 of the'ring 2l thenenters the PV-shaped vspace .formed between the beveled edge `2 V.of thering I8 and the inner periphery of the outer wall :l1 of the recess andunder the force exerted :by the end-33 of the associated tail part 29 onthe outer face `'of the ilange 24, forces its way between .such members,'compressing the ring :I8 tightly around lthe -outer periphery fof thefhose :and .firmly anchoring it therein. The .inner periphery fof thehose under the compression force -of the ring I8 is wedged tightly .anduniformly aga-inst the smooth `outer periphery of the .shank i3 and aportion of the material constituting the outer layer of the hose isApressed intoland firmly fanchored in the serrations or notchesfon the.interior of Ithering I8 .and the .slots 22 .and y2:3021? such Iring.The .hose end is thus tightly gripped .in place in the vassociatedmember y3 or Il between the Aaifichoring ring I8 which -exerts an `evencompressive pressure Von the outer periphery thereof through the slidingor wedg-ing ring 2l `and the outer peripheral surface of the shank I3,and the gripped hose material is firm-1y anchored and will remain inposition .in the recess .l5 while in `use regardless of the force withwhich .the fluid is forced through the hose andthe amount of binding thehose will be subjected to. Due `to `the fact that the shank ,i3 extendsbeyond the anchoring ring I8 the hose is lprevented from bending at the.point Where such ring ends thereby eliminating the amount of `strain onthe end vportion of the hose While in use. The inner periphery fof eachtail part 29 is also tapered outwardly .at .31 to give the hose agreater bending radius without tension or strain. These features ofconstruction enable the hose to lbend easily without tension or strainon the Walls :of the hose .thus eliminating possibility of rupture ofsuch -wallswhile in use Aand increasing the ylife of the hose.

To disconnect 'a yhose end Yfrom 'the coupling, the female member of avcoupling lhalf is unscrewed .from the v'outer wall H of the recess it tby means of a wrench, the inwardly extending shoulder 25 thereof moving'outwardly into 4contact 'with the inner 'face o'f the flange `24 on theassociated ring VZI and as the female member is unscrewed, forcing theflange outwardly, thereby 5 slidably removing the .ring 2l from therecess I5. When the .ring 221 has been Vwithdrawn from the recess, Ithering 'I'B 'is enabled to expand andrelease its pressure on theoutersurface of the wall of the hose and the 'hose end may then Ybewithdrawn from the recess by pulling outwardly on it.

`While I have shown and described a particular construction and'mode ofutilizing the invention for the purpose of enabling afclearunderstandingto be 'obtained of the same, Ido not wish to limit myself tofsufch,hence 'various changes in .the form, construction and arrangement of theseveral parts may ber'esorted to fwithout `departing from the spirit and4scope of the invention in order to render the invention susceptible ofvarious uses as will be .apparent to those familiar with couplingdevices.

'What is "claimedis:

1. .A hose coupling 'including a male half, 'a female .half and .meansfor securing the inner ends of said halves together sin affluid-tightcon-- nection, :each of 'said rcoupling halves comprising a body section.having an 1outwardly 'projecting inner tubular shankl .provided with`fa smooth outer surface tapering fat its -outer end Etoward the inner'surface -of such sshank and sadapted to enter the end :portion of lahose, :an outer annular portion zconcentrically disposed Awith relationto said tubular shank `and forming with the latter .the louterfandinnerwalls, rrespectively, of an annular Vrecess adapted to .receive the lendportion of .the hose, van anchoring ring positioned in each `recess andadapted to encircle .the inserted end of a hose, vsaid anchoring .ringbeing split and having :a pluralityof spaced annularlyshaped notchesandlongitudinally extending slots formed therein for receiving the materialof which the outer Ysurface 'of the hose .is constituted, a female :unitassociated with each coupling .hal-f :and comprising fa union 'memberinternally `threaded ateach Lend and provided with an inwardly extendingshoulder )formed on ts peripheral surface :intermediate the threadedends thereof, the wall fof :said union member `being thickened in theregion -of said shoulder and fora substantial distance Ion -each sidethereof; one end -of said unionmember being radapted vto threadedlylengage with the 'outer 'wa-ll .of said recess, an annular end portionthreadedly engaging with `the other-end of saidYun-ion member, the inner`edge -of said .end ,portion -being .spaced from said shoulder .so -asto forma lg-roove therebetween and a split slidable ring positionedinside of said female unit and having `an-end flange A loosely seated.in said groove, .said sl-idable ring being positioned in `said `recess.intermediate the outer Wall thereof and saidanchoring ring andsurrounding the latter, said slidable .ring .being adapted to .uniformlycontract .said .anchoring ring about the inserted end ,portion ofahoseso that that portion of the hose encircled by said anchoring ringis uniformly and tightly pressed against the outer sunface -of .saidtubularshank.

.2. A hose couplingsuch as dened inclaim l, in which said :male .half.has .-an inner tubular end portionprovided with an external thread.extending in opposed relation to .said shank portion thereof, Iand inwhich said female half has .an inner tubular endportion lprovided with`and external annular groove extending -in .opposed relation to saidshank .portion thereof, and .in which the means for securing the innerends of said halves together consists of .a coupling .mit having aninwardlylextending .flange at one end loosely seated .said annulargroove, having an internal thread adapted to .threadedly engage with the.external .thread .on .said inner .end portion of said male half., .landhaving means on .its exterior sur-tace xadapted to vbe engaged .by a.too'l to connect and disengage the inner end .portions of said male and.female halves, and said .male and `feni-alehalves each .including anlexternal annular shoulder .positioned .intermediate the shank and innerend .portions .thereof Iand extending outwardly .from vthe central .axisAof the coupling fa greaterrdistance .than the tool engaging means on.said-coupling hut.

3. A hose coupling comprising .a body :section composed -of a tubularpor-tion having a uniform interior diameter throughout .its entirelength, an -external annular shoulder integrally yconnected to saidtubular portion .intermediate vits length, the outer surface lofsaidtubular portion outwardly from said shoulder being smooth and tapering`at its outer end toward .the interior surface of said tubular portionand being adapted to enter the end portion of a hose, the outer surfaceof said tubular portion on the others/ide of said shoulder beingprovided with connecting means, an annular wall integral at its innerend with said shoulder and projecting outwardly therefrom in concentricspaced relation over said tubular portion to form an annular hose endreceiving recess therebetween, the interior surface of said annular wallbeing smooth and the exterior surface thereof being provided with anexternal thread, an anchoring ring positioned in said recess and adaptedto encircle the inserted end of a hose, said anchoring ring being split,having a plurality of annular notches; formed on its interior surfaceand a plurality of spaced slots extending inwardly from the ends thereoffor receiving the material of which the outer` surface of the hose isconstituted and having ,fai-smooth outer surface which at its outer endinclines toward the inner surface thereof, a female unit associated withsaid body section and comprising a union member internally threadedateach end and provided with an inwardly extending shoulder formed on itsinner peripheral surface intermediate the threaded ends thereof, thewall of said union member being thickened in the region of said shoulderand for a substantial distance on each side thereof, one end of saidunion member being adapted to threadedly engage with said annular wall,an annular end portion threadedly engaging with the other end o f saidunion member so as to form a groove between the inner end thereof andsaid union shoulder, and a split slidable ring positioned inside of saidfemale unit and having a flange loosely seated in said groove, saidslidable ring' being positioned in said recess intermediate the saidannular wall and said anchoring ring and surrounding the latter, saidslidable ring having a smooth interior surface tapering at its inner endtoward the exterior surface thereof, and being adapted to uniformlycontract said anchoring ring about the inserted end portion of a hose sothat the latter is uniformly and tightly pressed against the outersurface of said tubular portion.

4. A coupling such as defined in claim 3, in which the shoulder on 4saidbody section is provided on its inner face with an annular recessadapted to receive informative matter and in which the notches on saidanchoring ring each have one side disposed at approximately ninetydegrees with the central axis of the ring and a longer side disposed atan acute angle with respect to such axis, and` in which the slotsextending inwardly from one end of said anchoring ring are disposed instaggered relation with respect to the slots extending inwardly from theside thereof.

ERNEST SCHULTHESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,313,323 Cowles Mar. 9, 19432,328,298 Santhoi Aug. 31, 1943 I Certificate of Correction Patent No.2,501,619 March 21, 1950 ERNEST SCHULTHESS It is hereby oertied thaterror appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 22, after the Words on its insert inner;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Office.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of July, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

